Adianto P. Simamora – Legislators have urged the government to take action against 11 mining companies that have been operating in areas of protected forest without permits.
They are among the 13 firms allowed by the government to resume activities in protected areas as stipulated in a 2004 presidential decree issued by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The decree conflicts with the 1999 Forestry Law banning mining activities in protected forests. The Forestry Ministry last year issued another decree requiring the 13 firms to secure government permits to operate in forested areas.
Legislator Erik Satrya Wardhana said the government should no longer be tight-lipped on the lack of willingness from the mining companies to apply for permits.
"It is extremely ironic. After five years of special treatment, most of these 13 companies have not yet filed any proposals for the permits. They don't respect our government," he said in a meeting with Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Monday.
Data from Zulkifli's office shows that PT Aneka Tambang Southeast Sulawesi, which operates over 14,570 hectares, and Indominco Manditi East Kutai in East Kalimantan with 25,121 hectares, were the only companies that had secured permits.
The mines that have not yet applied for permits include Freeport Indonesia in Mimika, Papua, Freeport Indonesia in Puncak Jayawijaya, Papua, Karimun Granit in Riau, INCO in Sulawesi, Natarang Mining in Lampung, Nusa Halmahera Mineral in North Maluku, Pelsart Tambang Kencana in South Kalimantan, Interex Sacra Raya in East and South Kalimantan, Weda Bay Nickel in North Maluku, Gag Nikel in Sorong, Papua, and Sorikmas Mining in North Sumatra.
"Two of the companies that have not yet submitted permit proposals [operate in] over 200,000 hectares of forest, why does the government remain silent?" Erik said.
Legislator Marcus Nari said the government should take firm action to avoid massive forest degradation in the country. "I can't even imagine the damage [that would be suffered by the] forest if no action is taken by the government," he said.
Minister Zulkifli said the office had sent a letter to Freeport asking the company to propose permits to use the forest in 2009.
He said that since no permits had been secured by the mining companies, his office could not take action. He did, however, acknowledge that "all mining companies operating without licenses are illegal".
The Indonesian Mining Association earlier called on the government to revise the 2004 Presidential Decree to increase the number of companies allowed to operate in protected areas.